Human Factors Cast Pride 2022

Happy pride month!

To celebrate, Human Factors Cast will be releasing various audio based content, as well as some other non-audio content on the intersections of traditionally marginalized communities (specifically LGBTQIAP+) and HF/HCI/UX!

We're also donating a cut of our earnings this month to help support these communities, including 100% of our profits from our pride merch.

We've also changed our logo, because everyone does that, right? Happy pride month! Huge thanks to everyone in our Human Factors Cast Digital Media Lab for making this happen!

Fundraising for LGBTQ Youth

We want to put our money where our moth is. Because of this, we are donating 30% of all of our patreon earnings and 100% of the proceeds from our Pride Merch (see below) to The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project focuses on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a confidential service that offers trained counselors with the goal of providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for marginalized people under 25. They also offer guidance and resources to parents and educators in order to foster safe, accepting, and inclusive environments for all youth, at home and at school.

You can become a patron and get access to ALL our Human Factors Minutes by visiting our Patreon site or you can donate to The Trevor Project directly by visiting their donation page.

A Deep Dive into LGBTQIAP+ Inclusion in the Design Process

We're back again with our deep dive series! For Pride Month, we explore what inclusive design is, some key concepts of inclusive design, and how to incorporate LGBTQIAP+ inclusion in the design process.  

Read the full deep dive here

Human Factors Minutes

Availability of Resources for LGBTQIA+ in Human Factors, UX, and HCI

Episode Link

In recent years, leaders and organizations within Human Factors, HCI, and UX have focused efforts on improving inclusivity throughout the fields. While these efforts have not gone unnoticed, the lack of diversity, specifically the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community, persists. 
 
In our research, we found a limited availability of resources for marginalized community members entering the field, as well as limited consideration of queer users in design. Few studies have examined the inclusion of this marginalized community in Human Factors. 
 
One example of studies utilizing inclusionary research methods is a 2017 study examining the impact of technology on relationship therapy effectiveness. Another study, published in January 2022, highlighted the use of VR-based therapy to improve mental health outcomes. 
 
While there are affinity groups and clubs within organizations, the lack of research on inclusion within the field suggests considerations for queer users are likely limited, as well. 
 
This highlights a greater need for the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ members in all areas of research and design, who can advocate for queer users.
 
Participants in a 2019 study examining diversity at the HFES Annual Meeting noted the important role advocacy plays in increasing diversity and inclusion. 
 
Given this information, it is clear that, in order to have more inclusive designs for queer users, our profession must ensure we support advocacy and allyship by providing considerations and resources for these users within our own fields.

Guest Written and Read by Human Factors Cast Digital Media Lab Member: Rashod Moten.

Designing for LGBTQIAP+

Episode Link

In celebration of pride month, how can designers create LGBTQIAP+ inclusive interfaces, websites, and products? Inclusivity can create not just a welcoming environment for the community, but it can improve the experience for allies as well through setting a groundwork of acceptance of all identities.

There is more to inclusivity than turning a company logo into a rainbow flag for the month of June. When creating a product or website that requires a user to sign-up, designers can choose to leave out the option for gender all together. If this information is needed, they can "include non-binary" or "other" as an option. It is important that a designer incorporates gender-neutral terms throughout the product that doesn't exclude.

Representation matters, and that can be accomplished in many ways, such as allowing users to express themselves through icons and avatars, and designers can use this an opportunity to incorporate gender-neutral forms of expression. Sometimes, representation can come in the form of displaying images that include the LGBTQIAP+ community, or even designing marketing campaigns that are aimed towards the community.

When it comes to designing a product, design researchers can open up studies to specifically include members of the LGBTQIAP+ community, so that they are represented in the final product.

Finally, designers can create a product that protects the privacy of its LGBTQIAP+ users. Some members of the community may not want their identity or data shared elsewhere. It is a designers' duty to create a product that keeps its users safe from unwanted sharing of sensitive data, and informs them of what is shared.

Guest Written and Read by Human Factors Cast Digital Media Lab Member: Katie Sabo.

LGBTQ+ HFES Affinity Group

Episode Link

Did you know that the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society furthers their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through Affinity Groups that create opportunities for community, mentoring, and support based on areas of collective identity?

These groups aim to challenge the Human Factors and Ergonomics industry while advancing science to combat long standing social disparities. One such group is The LGBTQ+ Affinity Group which serves members of the society that identify as as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender non-conforming, as well as allies and supporters.

This HFES Affinity Group has three objectives: To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Society’s queer community, to foster this community through welcoming events, and to better our world through outreach activities with HFES’ partners and associated institutions.

At no cost, any interested person, regardless of membership level may participate in an affinity group. If you are interested in joining or forming a new Affinity Group you may find more information at hfes.org. 

Guest Read by Human Factors Cast Digital Media Lab member: Sofia Mottola

Using Human-Centered Design for LGBTQIAP+ Healthcare

People who identify as LGBTQIAP+ have a higher risk of mental and physical health challenges as compared to the general population. These include sexually transmitted diseases, substance use, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, bullying, isolation, rejection, anxiety, depression, and suicide.

Health care providers may lack adequate training on the specific needs and challenges faced by sexual and gender minorities. This can perpetuate prejudice and discrimination, resulting in poor quality of care. 

Access to proper training about the needs and challenges faced by the LGBTQIAP+ community is essential for health care providers. They can use this education to deliver more comprehensive, scientific, and humane care.

To develop this training, we can consider using human-centered design (HCD).  Using HCD encourages the engagement of multiple stakeholder groups (including youth, families, and providers) in our search for better ways to serve the growing number of people who identify as LGBTQIAP+. 

HCD methods (such as the creative matrix and importance-difficulty matrix) can be used to brainstorm a mix of traditional and innovative strategies. These strategies can then be prioritized based on their impact and ability to be successfully executed. 

To test the broad concepts of these ideas and develop them further, we can use low-fidelity prototypes with various people and environments.  This testing can help us develop high-fidelity prototypes that are ready for more involved clinical trials, and eventual use in clinical practice. 

By taking an HCD approach, we can create meaningful, acceptable, and novel interventions to address the multilevel factors that impact health care for the LGBTQIAP+ community. 

Human Factors Cast Pride Merch

Here's some of our favorites, but we have a ton of them over at our official merch store!

ALL of the proceeds from our Pride merch will go to supporting the LGBTQIAP+ communities.